The Hindu : Heavy rains claim 10 lives in Kerala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Heavy rains claim 10 lives in Kerala

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM OCT. 15. Heavy rains and floods claimed 10 lives in the State during the past two days. A man is reported missing in Kasaragod district.

Many houses were destroyed and crops damaged. Heavy damage occurred to roads and communication infrastructure. Many people have been moved to safer places.

Wells have sunk in several places in Kasaragod and Kannur districts in a repeat of the geological phenomenon that occurred last year. Roads and crops were washed away in landslips.

Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Wayanad districts took the brunt of the havoc. Revenue officials estimate that the losses would run into crores of rupees.

The Revenue Minister, K. M. Mani, has again issued directives to the revenue officials on relief measures and sought detailed reports from them. In Thiruvananthapuram district, a fisherman, Baby John, died in an accident at sea while fishing. Part of a bridge across of Killiar here was washed away. As many as 57 houses were partly damaged. The losses to crops are estimated to be of Rs. 28.5 lakhs.

In Kasaragod district, two people died. While a man, Abbas, was drowned, a 45-year-old woman, Asima, was killed when a cattleshed collapsed. Aboobacker, reported missing two days ago, is yet to be traced.

An official release said that 20 houses had been destroyed and 111 damaged in the district. Heavy rains and floods had affected all the 75 villages in the district. The loss to agricultural crops was estimated to be of Rs. 33.5 lakhs.

A landslip occurred at Chathamath in the taluk. Earth caved in Padare village.

In Kannur district, two people, including a 22-year-old boy, P. Vijesh, were killed. As many as 43 houses collapsed in heavy rains and 140 houses were damaged. More than 2,200 people (625 families) have been moved to 35 relief camps.

The district saw 14 wells collapsing during the rain. Initial estimates show that the losses to the agriculture sector could amount to Rs. 2.5 crores.

In Kozhikode district, a man named Imbichikoya fell into river and died. Rains destroyed nine houses and damaged 18 houses.

At Chokiyattu and Kandivathukkal hills in the district, five families lost their crops in land- slips. About a kilometre of road was flooded. The district authorities have set up five relief camps.

In Malappuram district, lightening claimed the lives of three women-- Mariam (17), Sainaba (32) and Soumini (40). A man named Gopalankutty Menon drowned. As many as 11 houses were fully damaged and 20 houses partially damaged. Losses to crops are estimated to be of Rs. 70,000.

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